It’s easy to call Lake Tahoe the last unforked pea on the plate of American snow riding. More and more Tahoe resorts might be mirroring the mainstream, painting a canvas of haves and haves more, but don’t kid yourself: No other resort destination in North America encompasses such a wide array of world class slopes, abundant snowfall, pristine vistas and sparkling amenities. Moreover, there are more chair lifts to ride in the Tahoe Basin than in the entire state of Colorado and four out of five days are sunny. Winter temperatures average around 29 degrees, and when it snows, which is often this early season, the flakes fall thick and fast, piling into soft mounds on the upper portion of discolored mountain peaks and setting the stage for exceptional skiing and snowboarding.
 
Alpine Meadows
(800) 441-4423/(530) 583-4232
Snow Phone: (530) 581-8374
www.skialpine.com
2,000 skiable acres
 
 In the cold war among hot skiers and riders, competitive rivalry never runs out of fuel at Alpine Meadows. Early morning speed junkies thrill down virgin, corduroy groomed trails, flashing from the top of Alpine’s Summit Six chair and its 8,637-foot crest into wide trails and tall transitions. Some carvers lay down tight; free-fall turns in the mogul gardens of Waterfall, The Face and the forgiving gradients of Kangaroo Ridge. Others challenge one another plunging through the rowdy timber of Peril Ridge and Three Sisters. 
 
More than 400 inches of snow blanket the resort annually. Come springtime, the coverage remains immense. Even better than the snow is the ground it covers. With a high base elevation of 6,837 feet, over 2,000 acres of terrain, and a variety of exposures, for over 40 years Alpine Meadows has offered some of North America’s toughest and tamest slopes. Especially deluxe are the resort's runs that are not directly lift accessed. Described by resort management as “Adventure Zones,” these areas beyond the buffed beltways of groomed snow contain terrain to make the quads quiver, egos soar, and dreams come true. Traversing the ridges north to the small tongues of spindrift atop Beaver and Estelle Bowls, or hiking south past Alpine Bowl to the breath-stealing views of the Twin Peaks area known as the High Traverse, there rests a delightful cache of big open drops, nifty noses, and daunting steeps the likes of which provide backcountry-style experiences within ski-patrolled boundaries.
 
That’s not to say the whole family won’t be happy here. With a joint pass for parents so they can take turns watching the tykes, families are bountiful. The Kids Camp program offers 3-6 year olds both ski and snowboard instruction. Other weekend programs provide adventure for children 4-12. Alpine Meadows is also home to North America’s second largest adaptive ski school.
 
What’s New:  The all new Alpine Resort Club offers the best value available for day lift tickets, mountain shopping and amenities, ski & snowboard coaching and lessons, dining, and more.
 
A Good Deal: With the Alpine Meadows Stay & Ski package, skiing and boarding are more affordable than ever. Guests may choose from more than 70 participating lodges, inns, hotels, and motels around Lake Tahoe, including vacationers‚ favorites like the Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe, River Ranch Lodge, Hampton Inn & Suites, Truckee Tahoe Best Western, Sunnyside Lodge and Restaurant, and Granlibakken Resort.
 
Best Event: The Mad Cow Downhill has fast become a cult classic at Alpine Meadows.  Held in the spring, skiers and snowboarders take the last chair of the day up Summit Six, strap on their helmets, pine planks no shorter than a pine plank, and in a Le Mans style start, careen from top to bottom in hopes of snatching a dangling season pass off the finish line bamboo.  The entire binocular-equipped sundeck crowd cheers while the announcer describes in vivid detail each blow-by-blow lead gainer and crash.
 
Don’t Miss: Located in the Tahoe Adaptive Ski School Lodge, the Gentian Café is a local’s secret, which offers grilled-to-order sirloin burgers, home made soups and other delectable.
 
Best Place to Take A Screaming Pottie: Overlooked by most guests who opt for the obvious steeps of Keyhole slope or Estelle Bowl, Craig’s Gully is a chute that hides on the east wall of Scott Peak, and involves a proactive excursion to locate. A twisting, meandering skier-made traverse along the Scott Plateau. dumps most people out in the gentle rolls of Scott Ridge. The lucky few who find themselves tucked into the hardened volcanic bubbles of Scott Peak stare down a chute that is no wider than the length of a slalom ski and as steep as a wall in a ski shop.  The intrepid, technically perfect few who brave its first ten jump turns are granted a front-door pass into the Promised Land, a sweeping treeless apron of powder, ending at the Scott Triple Chair lift line.
 
Insider Tip: On a powder day, beeline to Summit 6: Can't beat the view, can't beat the vibe, and for steep and sweet, you can't beat the D Chutes or Palisades.

More of Tahoe Resorts: A-to-Z

Alpine Meadows
Boreal
Diamond Peak
Donner Ski Ranch
Granlibakken
Heavenly Mountain Resort
Homewood Mountain Resort
Kirkwood Mountain Resort
Mt. Rose
Northstar-at-Tahoe
Sierra-at-Tahoe
Soda Springs
Sugar Bowl
Squaw Valley USA
Tahoe Donner